To celebrate the series finale of The Middle (after nine seasons), Freeform will air The Middle Mini-Marathon on Tuesday, May 26th, from 1pm (12C) to 6pm (5C) – ten choice episodes – in preparation for the series finale on ABC (8:30/7:30C).

The Heck family is just about done – ABC has announced that the critically acclaimed, long-running comedy series The Middle will end following this season (the show’s ninth).

The show stars two-time Emmy-winner Patricia Heaton as a harried wife and mother of three who lives in the middle of the country in Orson, Indiana, and uses her wry wit and sense of humor to get her family through each day intact. The farewell season begins Tuesday, October 3 (8/7C).

ABC has renewed its quirky family comedy The Middle for a ninth season.

The sometimes overlooked blue collar worker of ABC’s slate, The Middle is one of those shows that quietly goes about its business with little to no fanfare (until its network moves it to anchor a new night of comedy and then, and only then, is referred to a hit).

While shows like black-ish and Fresh Off the Boat get (well deserved) press, The Middle succeeds because it’s funny and heartwarming without ever being precious – and being newsworthy only when it gets renewed year after after year.

If there’s a comedy on network TV that deserves a ninth season, it’s The Middle.

ABC Family will begin running ABC’s long-running comedy series The Middle in a Monday-to-Friday strip on Tuesday, September 17 – following a sixteen-episode marathon on Monday, September 16th, beginning at 11am (10C).

The Middle follows the lives of the members of the Heck family – frazzled mom Frankie, calming dad Mike, oldest son Axl, spectacularly underachieving daughter Sue and gently eccentric youngest son, Brick. The Middle is told from Frankie’s point of view.

ABC gave six of its current series early pick-ups for the 2011-12 season. The good news went to Castle, Cougar Town, Grey’s Anatomy, The Middle, Modern Family and Private Practice. The press release follows the jump.